"I would hope so, he deserves that," Reid continued when asked whether Reed would be able to offer his amendment. "He and Heller deserve that."

Reed and Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., have been advocating for bringing back emergency unemployment compensation benefits since they expired in December and have drafted two five-month long unemployment extension bills, including one that passed the Senate in April.

Reid noted that the earlier efforts haven't gone anywhere.

The Republican-run House never considered the first measure, arguing it does nothing for job creation.

"We are losing some of our enthusiasm when the Republicans simply, other than Dean Heller, just turn a blind eye to these people who are suffering," Reid said.

In the meantime, a bill that at one point had been considered a leading contender to carry an unemployment extension — a job training overhaul — has blitzed through both chambers.